In the coming weeks, Georgia’s U.S. Representatives Rick Allen and Buddy Carter will play a critical role in shaping the future of our children’s online safety. As part of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, they have been working on a sweeping, consequential package of bills that, if done right, will make the internet a safer place for Georgia’s kids. And if done wrong, threatens to make things even worse.
As a parent and a state senator who works with our state’s youth and parents, I am deeply concerned about some of the approaches put forward. The “App Store Accountability Act” (ASAA) currently on the table closely resembles a bill that was recently struck down in Texas for its unconstitutionality. Though the goal of the ASAA is well-intentioned, the collection of driver’s license information walks a fine line between constitutionality and 1st amendment violations.
Additionally, if Congress advances this portion of the internet safety package, we are likely to see social media companies shirk their oversight responsibilities as opposed to cracking down further. If app stores are forced to enact age verification and parental consent policies at the point of download, social media platforms will be left off the hook, likely becoming indifferent to enforcing any further safety measures or monitoring of minors inside the apps themselves. This approach, though seemingly proactive on the surface, will inevitably set us back on our ultimate goal of ensuring our children’s safety online.
I urge our House Representatives to focus their time and energy on more practical and productive measures like the “Parents Over Platforms Act” (POPA), which introduces the needed guardrails for age verification without mandating sweeping data collection. This bill also bans targeted advertising to minors, blocks minors from adult content, and provides parents with a functional toolkit to control their children’s online activities. With its bipartisan support in committee, I hope to see more legislation like this embraced wholeheartedly while leaving behind bills that will likely end in lengthy court battles and less oversight by apps.
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